PURPOSE: Nitrogen mustard (NM), which simulates the effects of sulfur mustard (SM), is a potent vesicant known to cause irreversible corneal damage. This study investigates the mechanisms by which NM induces corneal damage by examining the impact of NM exposure on the morphology and lipidome of the cornea. METHODS: Intact ex vivo rabbit eyes were placed in serum-free DMEM organ culture. NM (0, 1, 2.5, 5 or 10 mg/ml) was applied to the central cornea for 5, 10 or 15 min using a 5 mm filter disk and subsequently rinsed with DMEM...

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of a dedicated eyelid cleanser and diluted baby shampoo in the management of blepharitis. METHODS: Forty-three participants with clinical blepharitis signs were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double-masked, paired-eye trial. A dedicated eyelid cleanser (TheraTears® SteriLid®) was applied to the eyelids of one eye (randomized) and diluted baby shampoo (Johnson's® No More Tears®) to the fellow eye, twice daily for 4 weeks...

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that results from inadequate insulin production or ineffective insulin utilization. It is one of the most common systemic diseases worldwide with increasing prevalence. Diabetes mellitus is associated with premature mortality, macrovascular complications such as cardiovascular disease, and microvascular complications, including nephropathy leading to kidney failure, potentially blinding diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic neuropathy. While the retinal complications of diabetes are well recognized by eye care professionals, the effects on the ocular surface are poorly understood...

Limbal stem cells (LSCs) maintain the normal homeostasis and wound healing of corneal epithelium. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a pathologic condition that results from the dysfunction and/or an insufficient quantity of LSCs. The diagnosis of LSCD has been made mainly based on medical history and clinical signs, which often are not specific to LSCD. Methods to stage the severity of LSCD have been lacking. With the application of newly developed ocular imaging modalities and molecular methods as diagnostic tools, standardized quantitative criteria for the staging of LSCD can be established...

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically feasible method for obtaining dye concentrations of 2% fluorescein (FL) and 1% lissamine green (LG) by soaking commercially available dye impregnated strips in saline. METHODS: Calibration curves were established to related known concentrations of dye to prepared FL fluorescence and LG absorbance. To determine the optimum number of dye strips and soaking times (preliminary testing), 1, 2, 3 FL or LG strips were soaked in 200 μl commercially available saline for 0...

PURPOSE: Treatment of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) remains intricate, and involves a long-term combined multistep approach. The self-retained cryopreserved amniotic membrane (PROKERA(®), Bio-Tissue, Miami,FL) has been utilized for multiple ocular surface disorders. We evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ProKera(®) Slim [PKS] and ProKera(®) Clear [PKC] in the treatment of NCP. METHODS: Retrospective case series of 9 patients who received PKS/PKC for the acute treatment of NCP...

PURPOSE: To perform a bibliometric analysis in the field of dry eye disease (DED) research to characterize the current international status of DED research and to identify the most effective actors (journals, countries, authors) involved in this field. METHODS: Scientometric methods were used to evaluate global scientific production and development trends in DED research using the Web of Science Core Collection. RESULTS: The growth of the literature related to DED averaged 12...

Dry eye is a common, multifactorial disease currently diagnosed by a combination of symptoms and signs. Its epidemiology and clinical presentation have many similarities with neuropathic pain outside the eye. This review highlights the similarities between dry eye and neuropathic pain, focusing on clinical features, somatosensory function, and underlying pathophysiology. Implications of these similarities on the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye are discussed.

PURPOSE: This study asked whether pregnancy, a risk factor for dry eye disease associated with both chronic, immune-mediated- and autoimmune etiologies, augments development of clusters of coordinately functioning cells (CCFC) that may be precursors to pathological lacrimal gland infiltrates. METHODS: Lacrimal glands were from six virgin- and six term-pregnant rabbits of the same age and environmental exposure history. Seventy-two immune response-related gene transcripts were assayed by real time RT-PCR...

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED) in the elderly and to describe systemic and ocular factors associated with DED in a population-based study, the Montrachet (Maculopathy Optic Nerve nuTRition neurovAsCular and HEarT diseases) study. METHODS: Dry eye symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. A self-reported history of dry eye symptoms and artificial tear use were also recorded. Every participant underwent an ophthalmic evaluation, which included the Schirmer test without anesthesia (Schirmer I), tear film breakup time (TFBUT) measurement, and fluorescein corneal staining evaluation...

Tear film breakup (BU) is an important aspect of dry eye disease, as a cause of ocular aberrations, irritation and ocular surface inflammation and disorder. Additionally, measurement of breakup time, BUT, is a common clinical test for dry eye. The current definition of BUT is subjective; here, a more objective concept of "touchdown" - the moment when the lipid layer touches down on the corneal surface - is proposed as an aid to understanding processes in early and late stages of BU development. Models of BU have generally been based on the assumption that a single mechanism is involved...

PURPOSE: Citation analysis represents one of the best currently available methods for quantifying the impact of articles. Bibliometric studies list the ''best sellers'' in a single field of interest. The purpose of the present study was to identify and analyze the most frequently cited papers in dry eye research that may be of high interest for researchers and clinicians. METHODS: We reviewed the database of the Institute for Scientific Information to identify articles published from 1900 to September 2016...

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate clinical and morphological changes in the limbal palisades of Vogt (POV) at different stages of aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) and to assess possible utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) for the visualization of limbal progenitor structures as it correlates to laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) data. METHODS: The study involved 32 patients (59 eyes) with congenital aniridia. AAK stage was defined based on biomicroscopy...